Fort Portal: Experts urge climate smart farming as seasons worryingly shift

31 January 2026, 20:23

By Clare Nayebare

Agricultural experts in Fort Portal warn that deforestation, bush burning, and poor farming practices are worsening global warming and disrupting seasonal patterns, calling on farmers, government, and NGOs to promote nature-friendly methods that protect the environment while ensuring sustainable and nutritious food production

Farmers in Fort Portal City and the wider Rwenzori region have been encouraged to adopt agroecology as a practical response to the growing impacts of climate change, including unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, and declining soil fertility.

The call was made by Paul Kusiima, an agroecologist at the Food-Feed-Forest (Triple F) Agroecology Demonstration Centre in Kigarama, Kabarole. Kusiima noted that agroecology promotes farming systems that work with nature, reduce environmental degradation, and at the same time ensure food security in the face of global warming.

Shifting seasons

According to Kusiima, Fort Portal’s once-reliable farming seasons have been significantly disrupted, a situation he attributed partly to climate change driven by human activities such as deforestation, bush burning, and unsustainable land-clearing methods.

“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; farmers are already feeling its effects through poor harvests and changing seasons,” Kusiima said. “Agroecology offers climate-smart solutions by restoring soils, conserving biodiversity, and reducing practices that worsen global warming.”

Kusiima on farming

He called upon government agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in environmental conservation to intensify public sensitization on climate-friendly farming practices that protect ecosystems while producing nutritious food. Kusiima particularly encouraged the growing of indigenous crops, noting that they are more resilient to climate stress and require fewer external inputs.

“Indigenous crops adapt better to our local climate. They help farmers withstand climate shocks while preserving the environment,” he added.

Kusiima on Agroecology

Rethinking land use practices

Echoing the same concerns, Wilson Ajuna, a Fort Portal-based agricultural consultant, urged farmers to rethink their land-use practices as climate pressures increase. He emphasized that food production and environmental conservation can go hand in hand through agroecology.

“Many farmers believe they must cut down trees or burn bushes to farm, yet these practices accelerate climate change,” Ajuna explained. “Agroecology teaches farmers how to integrate crops with existing vegetation. For example, some climbing crops can grow on trees, maintaining tree cover while supporting food production.”

Ajuna further observed that climate change challenges are being compounded by the poor quality of seeds sold in some agro-input shops, which has led to reduced yields and increased farmer frustration.

As climate change continues to threaten livelihoods in the Rwenzori region, experts warn that embracing sustainable farming systems like agroecology is no longer optional but essential for long-term food security, environmental protection, and resilience against global warming.